Coolant problems with 1997 Chrysler LHS

The temperature guage has stayed normal, yet coolant was leaking from the reservoir. Every 2-3 days, I'd have to add a considerable amount of anti-freeze to the reservoir, but last Friday, a mechanic examined the inside of the radiator cap and told me that was the problem; the rubber seal had greatly deteriorated and was evidently the original radiator cap (which fits on the reservoir). So I bought a new radiator cap, and took it to them. They refilled with antifreeze (after there was a huge geyser when they took off the old cap too early), and I went on my way merrily, thinking my problem was solved.

That night coming out of the grocery store, I noticed what I thought was an excessive amount of coolant under my car after I had left it parked for an hour or so. I thought it was just evaporation, but tday, two days later, I had driven 4 miles to church, let the car sit for two hours, drove it a couple of miles to a restaurant, when I noticed the heat guage was as far as it could go past the danger zone and my oil indicater was on! I left it to cool while I had lunch. When I refilled the reservoir with antifreeze afterwards, I thought I was set until I could have the mechanic check it again tomorrow. Two miles down the road after the refill, the guage was again past the danger zone, and the oil light indicater was on again!!!!

I have a "99" chrysler and I got this so called mechanic to change my thermostat because my heat wasn't working. To make a long story short, the guy broke one of my screws. He had to order new screws, so I had to wait until the next day. I picked my car up. Before I got 4 blocks away the car was over heated. I called the fool and he said it needs antifreeze in it. Now it keeps over heating and he said there's a whole in my antifreeze reservoir.I have a "99" chrysler and I got this so called mechanic to change my thermostat because my heat wasn't working. To make a long story short, the guy broke one of my screws. He had to order new screws, so I had to wait until the next day. I picked my car up. Before I got 4 blocks away the car was over heated. I called the fool and he said it needs antifreeze in it. Now it keeps over heating and he said there's a whole in my antifreeze reservoir.

AnonymousDec 12, 2008

I've got a 97 and have had a steady leak over the last few months from the radiator. You can have a mechanic pressurize it to identify where the leak might be. There is a valve in the front of the engine block that allows air out, let some out and put some fluid in if you get this problem again. I've got a 97 and have had a steady leak over the last few months from the radiator. You can have a mechanic pressurize it to identify where the leak might be. There is a valve in the front of the engine block that allows air out, let some out and put some fluid in if you get this problem again.

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I believe they are located in the intake manifold somewhere. Make sure the one that tells the computer the coolant temp is ACTUALLY giving out the correct temperature. I had a bad one one time in a 1993 Ford F-150, 5.8L....... no check engine light came on but hard to start. The bad sensor was telling the computer it was 32 degrees F when it was almost 80 degrees outside.!!
Garbage in=Garbage out.

Here is a video link from Youtube. There are 2 sensors, 1 for the guage and the other tells the on-board computer how hot/cold the coolant is. The one for the guage has 1-wire and the other one has 2 wires.
Hope this helps, ask more if you need to. What kind of problem are you having? No heat inside? Guage needle not getting into the normal area?

Yes, the temperature gauge should normally stop in the middle, between the cold and hot points on the gauge. When the engine is cold the thermostat will be closed and will keep recirculating the coolant in the engine block until it warms up sufficiently. Then the temperature of the warm coolant will cause the thermostat to open the channel to the radiator to get rid of excess heat, which should stop the coolant from over heating. So the effect of the thermostat keeps the coolant at a fairly stable temperature. When the coolant runs low, it can't transfer enough heat to the radiator and the coolant and engine then over heats. Watch for radiator leaks under your car after you have been driving it. If the coolant goes low again fairly quickly you could have a leak in a hose or the radiator itself.

Check the coolant reservoir and the radiator for proper coolant level. If low you probably have a leaking intake gasket or possibly a head gasket leak. The intake leak will be visible on either end of the intake manifold, located at the very top portion of the engine. The head gasket usually shows up at the rear head, nearest the belt. You could have a water pump leaking and this would show coolant on the ground under the right front of the engine, more so when the engine is running. They are very common for all 3 problems.

Generally that smell is caused by an oil leak that is getting on either the exhaust pipe or manifold (doesn't take much to smell). As far as bottle getting low, I've got a 93 that never stays full but only needs coolant in the radiator about once every two months. Been like that for two or three years and has never overheated. I'm sure there is a small leak somewhere, but I'm not driving myself crazy looking for it. Check all hose connections, and look on the ground after being parked overnight...If it's leaking, something will show up. But if the radiator is staying full, just check it when checking oil level.

fix the radiator first.because coolant temperature sensor need to be in antifreeze.when antifreeze get up to 190 degrees. the coolant sensor act as a thermostat.it resistance decrease then the pcm will command cooling fans to run.if antifreeze low the coolant temperature sensor not going to work. engine is going to over heat.